Europe

France Counts 7,919 Excess Deaths Across Four 2026 Heatwaves

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Courtroom-sketch editorial illustration of four cattle in a heat-scorched French pasture below a dry hill, framed by leafy trees and rendered in warm ochre and slate-blue pastel strokes.

France's public health agency estimated 817 excess deaths from all causes during the July 27-August 20 heatwave, lifting the provisional total across four 2026 heatwave episodes to 7,919. The latest period recorded 16,552 deaths against 15,735 expected, with 751 of the excess among people aged 75 or older. The estimates use non-consolidated mortality data and do not establish that heat directly caused every excess death. Météo-France said summer 2026 was France's hottest since measurements began in 1900, with a 24-hour mean temperature of 24.0°C, 3.6°C above normal.

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